The Weekly Show: 4/19/25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and welcome to the weekly show here on iHeartRadio

(00:02):
on ninety three to nine light FM, one of three
five Kiss at M and Rock ninety five to five.
I'm Paulina, and every week we're here to discuss a
variety of topics that matage to Chicagoland, from health, education,
to finances and so much more.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
And today on the show, we are chatting with a
Chicago entrepreneur celebrating National Bodycare Day and we are talking
all about the trials and tribulations that he had to
face coming up in the industry. We also have another
episode of Whitney's Women featuring Brady, of course, and we'll
be talking about childhood cancer as the leading cause of

(00:37):
death by disease among children in the US. And we
will be talking to the nonprofit han Night Hope on Wheels.
So let's kick off the show.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Hi, It's Paulina here with iHeartMedia Chicago, and today I
am chatting with Darryl Spencer.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
How are you today?

Speaker 4 (00:52):
I am doing good. How's it going, Billina?

Speaker 1 (00:55):
I'm so good. I'm excited to have you here. Darryl
Spencer is a distinguished entrepreneur whose impact on the corporate
and hair and beauty industries is undeniable. You grew up
here in Chicago. I love that, and you are here
to talk to us about I mean, obviously we're talking
about King's Crowning, which we'll get into as well. We're
going to talk about the importance of addressing the significant

(01:17):
gap in black hair and beauty as well. So I'm
excited to have you, Darryl, If you don't mind, can
you give us a little bit of a background about yourself?

Speaker 4 (01:26):
Sure? So my name is Daryl Spencer. I am in Chicago,
native born and raised in Chicago. I've been here all
my life, but I actually won a way to school
in Connecticut on the East Coast. A bit about me, so,
I actually worked most of my corporate career in big tech.
So I worked at some of the biggest tech companies
like Meta, Google, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and essentially at these companies,

(01:50):
what my job enrolled was was to ensure that I
work with some of the largest corporations in the world
to ensure that they scaled their paid advertising strategies on
each platform. So I picked up some some really really
strong gems and insights working with these companies, and you know,
I saw huge gaps in the markets. When it first
came down to my first company, King's Crowning, where we

(02:12):
created a Saturn line hats and products for me to
protect their hair, and then it rolled me over into
my second company, which is Crown Skin, which is what
we're talking about. But you know, I really took a
lot of those learnings that I got working in corporate
America and brought it into my companies and I was
able to successfully scale King's Crowning into a seven figure company.

(02:34):
Now my current company, Crown Skin, we're a figure company now.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
So that's so incredible.

Speaker 3 (02:39):
That is a blessing.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
I'm so incredibly just I mean, I'm proud of you.
I just met you at this moment, but I am
going to because I love what first. I love when
the Chicago and has a story. Okay, like my favorite thing.
But I love that we're addressing the beauty industry, but
also we're addressing the underrepresentation and that audience is black men.
So can you kind of take us back to if

(03:02):
you even remember the kind of the moment that you
realize you're like, okay, that we are underrepresented and black
men are seeking luxury skincare, right but it doesn't exist.
You remember that pivotal moment.

Speaker 4 (03:15):
Yeah, easy, right, it happens daily. But I can say
I was. I was actually walking across. It was one day.
I was just trying to find just some more you know,
cool products for myself right in the skin care department.
So I was walking across the four went to Target,
and I mean I just seen all of these amazing
products that were just innovative for women, but I really

(03:37):
wasn't seeing many things for you know, one men, but
also men of color. So you know, I saw I
saw a big gap, right. I mean I think that
as black men and just men in generally deserve amazing
skin care products that are that's extremely nourishing for the skin,
but it's also very cool, right, So you know, I

(03:57):
found myself wanting to be an innovator and this market
and bring men amazing products that's great for their skin
but also dope. So I have two loves, right, as
most men, I love the smell amazing, right, So I
love a good colone. But then also you know, for
people of color as well, we need, you know, we
to Ashley sometimes, right, we need we need to moisturize

(04:18):
our skin. So sometimes people use lotions, people use body butters.
You know, you have your own choice for moisturization. But
I wanted to figure out how can we create maybe
a two in one right where we can combine the
worlds of moisture like a lotion or a body butter
and combined with the colone. So then that was the
inception of Crown Skin, where we create amazingly sensed premium

(04:41):
Colonne body butters for men. So we've actually merged the
world to fine fragrance and colones with body butters. So
if you think about it, you're you're essentially like rubbing
a colone all over your body while being moisturized. So
then that was the start of us rolling out Crown Skin,
but also beginning to be innovators in the market because
you're not seeing anything like it on the market right

(05:01):
now for men where you can coin a body butter
a cologne body butter. So we're definitely in the industry now.
We're paving the way for others to come in, but
we're excited to get the forefront innovating the market for men.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
Absolutely, and you kind of touch on it, but I'm
just kind of sort of curious, how do your brands
reflect your personal like core values.

Speaker 4 (05:21):
Yeah, well, I would say I would say, for one, right,
I'm really really really passionate about ensuring that we're empowering right,
underserved communities, underrepresented, underrepresented communities, right, and you know we're
doing that with Crown Skin as well. You know the
men's skin care industry, right, it's huge, it's a lot

(05:45):
of potential, but most aren't tapping into it. But when
you also consider just just men's products, you know that
I kind of said, it's a dimon it's a diamond
dozen' a fine just really cool products. It's meant for us,
made for us, specifically designed for us. There's just not
meaning innovative things out there. So one, you know, just
being able to empower men right to feel great and

(06:06):
feel sexy and confident with great products is my ultimate goal.

Speaker 5 (06:09):
Right.

Speaker 4 (06:10):
Number two, I will say, you know, we also just
we use sustainabilly and ethically sourced products too. That's huge, right,
We were very informed on what products we use. It's
very intentional, so we use the top of the line
products as well, so, but they're all sustainable with ethically sourced.
So that's important for me. But I think the biggest
part about it is, you know, we truly I like

(06:32):
to say that we're a confidence company, right. These fragrances, y'all.
When I tell you though, like the body butters smell
so good. I'm not sure a lot of people have
seen our ads across social media, so they know when
they see it, they know what it means. But we'd
like to say that our fragrances are so irresistible that
if you walk past a girl, you know, I mean
just essentially immediately, Oh, she's just gonna stop. She's going

(06:55):
to ask you what do you have on? And that's
what That's what we give to our men. We give
them confidence, right, competence in the jar.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
I love it.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
And Darryl, what about some of the biggest challenges that
you face in building your brands?

Speaker 4 (07:07):
Right?

Speaker 1 (07:07):
What were thing? How did you kind of push through that?

Speaker 4 (07:10):
Yeah? So you know, I would say this, I started
a company actually a year ago. This is my second company,
so I'm not new to the space, right, I've been
doing this for about six seven years now, but this
is actually my my second and biggest company. So I
would say one of the biggest hurdles was, you know,
starting a year ago we've scaled really fast. You know,
as I said, we were an eight figure company now

(07:32):
and we did that all in under a year in
at the year mark right now. So when you grow
super fast, you have to be able to understand how
to grow at scale and create strong foundations, uh, to
ensure that you know, it's sustainable scaling. So you know,
we had to pivot and grow quickly with the company
as a company was growing, so we had to do
some restructuring. We had to operationally ensure that manufacturing is scalable.

(07:58):
We had to ensure that from a fulfilled mints standpoint,
we can scale there. So ensuring that we're efficient and
effective at that point. I mean as well, when you're
getting bigger, I mean you want to ensure that you're
always offering premium products to your customers. So then I
mean even there we begin and just begin to source
better products, better fragrances.

Speaker 5 (08:16):
Right.

Speaker 4 (08:17):
So, I think the biggest hurdle is, you know, when
your company grows, having to know how and resources to
be able to scale with it. I think sometimes companies
fail because from a foundational standpoint, they're not they're not
foundationally creating that that that framework to ensure that one
your company sustainable, but it can it can grow. You know, say,

(08:38):
for instance, you do go viral, did you create that
foundational framework to ensure that when you do go viral
that you can absolutely fulfill and meet the demand?

Speaker 6 (08:47):
Right?

Speaker 4 (08:47):
And if your answer is no, you got to start
from the beginning. So you know, having to just create
that framework from jump, I think was the biggest hurdle.
But we for sure got there and now we're able
to scale and I mean we're doing.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
Spectacular absolute And what about you know, as far as legacy,
what is your message to young people who are watching
this or they're hearing us, and they've got big dreams
but limited resources. What would you say to them?

Speaker 4 (09:11):
So one thing that I will say is, you know, personally,
for me, I didn't have all the resources. A bit
about my background. I grew up in a middle class family, right,
I had some of the hardest working parents. My dad
worked for the police departments retired, but he's worked there
for twenty plus years and even at part time jobs

(09:31):
to ensure that we never went without anything. And my
mom worked for Postal Service and worked her way her
worked her way up the rank, the ranks there as well.
I didn't have a rich uncle or a rich father, or
a rich mother or anyone who's done what I've done
that I can go up to and ask for the
secret sauce. Right, So honestly, I had to really, you know,

(09:52):
create my own door and break the door down and
walk straight through it. So you know, there's different methods
to do that. But initially when I started, I started
with YouTube first, right, that was going to be that
was my resource. I didn't have resources, so I said,
I'm going to find some resources. So YouTube was my
biggest friend. You know. I googled everything and then you know,

(10:13):
I took some initiative not I I code called essentially
right and the dms some other founders who I looked
up to, and I DM them asking them, you know, hey,
I would love to just grab some time of your calendar, right,
let's just talk. I would love to ask you some
questions and pick your brain. So one of the biggest
things that I will say is I'm a testament as
well as many other people that never allow, you know,

(10:37):
barriers to resources stop you from your blessings, right, and
your blessings can be that next company that you create
that you essentially just started and didn't know how to
function or run it, but you chose to go out
on a whim. You know, one of the things that
I love to say and go about is the fact
that I love to fail, but I love to fail
fast and fail forward. So you know, it might not

(10:57):
work out immediately right, but it will work out. But
if you don't try right, nothing's gonna come from And
so feel fast, fail forward and continue to push forward
even without the resources, and if you don't have them,
make your own.

Speaker 1 (11:09):
Absolutely, I love your advice and I really appreciate you
being here to share this with us today. Darryl Spencer,
where can we follow you on social and of course
check out all of your products the ones that you've
been mentioning today on the show? Where can we do
all that?

Speaker 4 (11:21):
Absolutely? So you guys can actually follow me personally on Instagram?
It is I am Darryl Spencer. It's IM d A
r R E L L. Spencer. Then for the products,
you can actually follow us on Instagram at Crowned Dot Skin.
That's Crowned Dot Skin. You can follow us on or
you can actually go to our site to purchasing products.
It's Crownskin dot Com And if you forgot, this is

(11:44):
the best company for men, created by men, and we
give you the most irresistible fragrances and a body butter
formance and moisturize your skin, and we got so much
more coming up.

Speaker 1 (11:55):
Awesome, Daryl, thank you so much for being here with
us today.

Speaker 4 (11:58):
All right, thank you so much.

Speaker 5 (12:00):
It is literally my favorite time of the week. Brighten's
my day, Brighten's My week, Brighten's my life.

Speaker 4 (12:05):
Oh.

Speaker 5 (12:06):
The one and only last time I saw her was
at her birthday party. We were dancing to some country
music together. Is funanchronized dancing, sagnized dancing, the one and
only from the Whitney Reynolds Show. Whitney Reynolds is back.

Speaker 7 (12:15):
Hey, oh my goodness, this is my favorite time of
the week as well. Joining the thirtieth floor of iHeart
and bringing the fabulous women of Chicago to Whitney's Women.
And today we have the amazing Tracy Meyer and Tracy
you I would consider now a friend. But even when

(12:35):
you got off the elevator, you have this just presence
about you that people feel like they know you when
you walk into a room.

Speaker 3 (12:40):
Brady goes, don't I know you?

Speaker 5 (12:42):
It was like a familiar face or I was like,
maybe I've seen you out in Chicago working together on something,
but it sounds like you got a lot of.

Speaker 3 (12:48):
Things well well.

Speaker 7 (12:48):
And she has been doing a ton of media because
of what she's coming on for today with the Wings event. Tracy,
Welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (12:55):
Thank you. I'm so happy to be here with you.

Speaker 7 (12:58):
Yeah, so you have been a busy woman because your
event is now in countdown mode, and luckily for our listeners,
we have a few tickets left, So tell us all
about Wings.

Speaker 8 (13:09):
So.

Speaker 6 (13:09):
WINGS is the largest domestic violence intervention organization in the
state of Illinois, and they're celebrating their fortieth anniversary this year.
So they bring forty years of expertise to the table
their innovators in their space. And what they do is
they provide different types of housing and emergency shelter and
different types of housing, counseling and supportive services to get

(13:33):
people who have suffered through domestic violence back on their
feet toward living and independent, joyful life. And what makes
them or there's many things that make that make them
leaders in their space, but one thing that sets some
report from a lot of the other organizations in that
space is they'll allow people to be in their.

Speaker 3 (13:53):
Program for up to two years.

Speaker 6 (13:54):
Wow, And in most cases there's a sixth month cap,
so you can imagine in two years how much you
can do with not only adults, but children because Wings
actually services more children. We don't tend to think about
that as much, but most people that come into a
shelter have more than one child. So phenomenal organization.

Speaker 7 (14:13):
And two years you're so right because six months you're
kind of just getting the hang of, like I'm safe,
and now you're back out there. So WINGS does two
years that is incredible. So you have a very personal
story that involved that brought you two Wings. Are you
comfortable sharing any of that?

Speaker 3 (14:29):
Of course?

Speaker 6 (14:31):
I was married for thirty years and after my marriage ended,
I ultimately met someone through mutual friends and was in
a long distance relationship with him for two years. And
after the two year point, I made the decision to
move to live with him because it made sense and

(14:54):
I thought this was the man I was going to
be with for the duration. And shortly after I got there,
things changed significantly. The relationship became very controlling. Just all
that beautiful stuff started disappearing, you know, little by little,
but it wasn't overnight, and that was intentional, and so

(15:18):
over the course of the next handful of months, I thought,
oh my god, aren't looking so great anymore. I've got
to figure things out. But layered into all of that
was this very deep pathological behavior and manipulation that was
all intentional on his part, but I didn't know that,

(15:41):
And so, being the empathetic, giving person that I am,
you know, I gave him a little more wiggle room,
a little more wiggle room, which normally my goalposts are
solid when it comes to my core values, but I
gave him a little more and gave them, you know,
out of empathy, to the point where I remember the
day I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize a

(16:03):
woman looking back at me.

Speaker 3 (16:04):
Wow.

Speaker 6 (16:06):
And here's the crazy thing about it, Because he's a
man who's deemed as a pillar in the community. This
is the man who would hold my hand as we
would stroll through the neighborhood, drawing envy from the neighbors,
fill the house full of fresh flowers because I love them.
He would insist that I fly first class coming home
to visit my family, and so on and so on.

(16:27):
You know, seen as the great father, the great family man,
the great friend, the philanthropist, and on and on. This
was the same man who was horrifically abusing me behind
closed course. But the twisted part of it is he
couldn't get caught, he couldn't expose himself, so you know,
I he had to be so careful about how and

(16:51):
when he did it because there couldn't be any evidence. Now,
we know most people they think of domestic violence, they
think of physical abuse, right, right, But there are different
and there's so many different types. Psychological abuse is huge, stalking,
sexual abuse, financial abuse, and so in cases like mine
where we're dealing with that person who is deemed more
as a pillar, they typically don't abuse physically because it's evidence, right,

(17:19):
and they've got to be really careful.

Speaker 7 (17:20):
Well. And what I find fascinating and bringing Wings back
to this, you had gone through this horrific experience and
you move back here and you just opened up about
your story online and you realize there was this whole
community of women that also had similar stories, and you
realize that it's not always what you think domestic violences

(17:42):
and people need more And is that what brought you
to Wings?

Speaker 6 (17:46):
Well, it is it's I remember, so I literally came
back to Chicago with my clothing and a handful of
boxes when my sons flew out and got me. But
I mean, there's so much, oh my stuff that happened.
And I don't get into the specifics of what he
did just because I I don't need to. But I

(18:08):
can tell you that when I got back to Chicago,
my life was so turned upside down, and I thought
I ended up staying with friends for six months because
my ego went allow me to ask my grown sons
if I could crash on their couch. The shame was mortifying.
I now know the shame was never mine to own,

(18:31):
but at that time, man, did I hold it? And
I held it well, And one day something just provoked me.
It's It was a mom's group on Facebook nor Shore
Mom's Group two. I said I'm gonna I'm just going
to put something on here brief and so I did,
and I had two hundred and sixty two women like

(18:52):
respond reacts. So I thought, Okay, there's something more here,
and I took it offline form my own little support
group and kind of layered in there. Made the decision
to do a major pivot in my life. I had,
as you know, my own jewelry brand for many years.
That's the world I come from luxury fashion to pivot
into this space because I thought, I know my strength,

(19:15):
I know my courage, I know my resilience. If my
experience took me to my knees, what is happening to
people who don't have the strength and the courage and
the resilience I do. I have to find the silver lining.
I need to use my voice in my story to
help other people. I knew of Wings, so I reached
out to Rebecca dar the CEO, and I said, I'm.

Speaker 3 (19:38):
Not really quite sure why.

Speaker 6 (19:41):
I just would love a phone call and she said,
that's meet for lunch, and so we did. And then
it took about four months to figure out how they
could use me in a way with my entrepreneurial background,
because again I come from such such a different background.

Speaker 3 (19:54):
But that's what I love about.

Speaker 7 (19:55):
Okay, so now let's bring in the event because this
is where you're It's truly connected because you said you
were in the jewelry business, luxury fashion, and then there's
domestic violence, but you have found a way to have
this conversation in a beautiful space and bring people together
in a way that they can learn more about domestic violence.

(20:17):
But yet it feels like a wonderful evening out tell
us about the event.

Speaker 3 (20:21):
So you're exactly right.

Speaker 6 (20:22):
I thought, if I say to people, do you want
to come and listen to me talk about domestic violence,
I'm going to be chirping by myself. And so I thought, well,
what better way is to tap into my deep background
in luxury fashion. Having been in Chicago for so long
and working with a city and doing so many things,
I thought, Oh, I had to remind myself I have
an enormous network.

Speaker 3 (20:43):
So I thought, let's do a to a fashion show.

Speaker 6 (20:45):
So last year we did Blossom, and I will tell
you it wasn't easy to pull off because people aren't
used to being called to say, do you want to
support a fashion show that's raising money to help the
survivors of domestic violence?

Speaker 3 (21:01):
We call ourselves the victors. Yes, yeah, I love it.
They're used to.

Speaker 6 (21:05):
Being called to asked to support the American Heart Association
and things that conversations that are easy to have. So
there were a lot of eyeballs on the ceiling. And
we understand that because it's as a society, we've decided
that domestic violence is kind of a dirty, icky thing,
and that's what we're trying to change. So we thought, yes,
let's create this beautiful setting to bring people together because
we know they'll show up for that, and then we

(21:27):
have that window to talk to them about the misconceptions
and to chip away at the shame and the stigma,
to get the eyeballs off the ceiling, to start becoming
more comfortable having these conversations. Because one in three women
and one of four men will be affecting in their lifetime.
We're not talking about something that happens.

Speaker 3 (21:47):
Here and there.

Speaker 6 (21:48):
It's not only is it pervasive with no boundaries. I
would call it an epidemic, right, it's based on those numbers,
those numbers alone. Yeah, but yet no one wants to
talk about it. So I'm like, well that's stop now.
So last year sold out, sold.

Speaker 3 (22:04):
Out, and it was beautiful. I was there.

Speaker 7 (22:06):
And then this year is this Thursday, And can you
give us the info where people can get tickets?

Speaker 6 (22:11):
Yes, so we still have limited tickets available wingsprogram dot com.

Speaker 3 (22:15):
This year, we have Lorel as.

Speaker 6 (22:17):
A sponsor, We Haves magazine and board we have Coval Raphino,
so we have incredible and kind sponsors. Just a lot
of the apiece we're going to be there. We have
five domestic finance of victors walking the runway and sharing
their stories. Dangel Barker, Yes, he is coming back from
New York and we'll be showcasing Janet Mandel Runway and

(22:40):
the one and only Whitney's.

Speaker 3 (22:43):
I will always love you.

Speaker 7 (22:47):
You know what on the cruises I attempted on the
karaoke always yeah, I'm like, yeah.

Speaker 3 (22:51):
Girl, Whitney Reynolds will be our fabulous hono.

Speaker 7 (22:54):
Ye yes, I'm so excited for this. Okay, So give
our listeners one more time the link to the tickets
and thank you for bringing brave with your story.

Speaker 3 (23:00):
Tracy.

Speaker 6 (23:01):
It's my pleasure wingsprogram dot com. Click on upcoming tickets
and you'll see the Blossom Fashion Show.

Speaker 7 (23:08):
I will also have it on my social as well.

Speaker 3 (23:09):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 6 (23:11):
Man.

Speaker 5 (23:11):
I mean you said right here, sitting in that chair,
you have a voice and you want to use it.
You just did, yes and hear you want people to
hear your voice. So somebody listening right now, maybe they're
going through at the one in four women. So thank
you for sharing, and hopefully they can buy some tickets
to go to the event. And Whitney, You'll be there.

Speaker 3 (23:25):
I will be there.

Speaker 4 (23:26):
I know you.

Speaker 5 (23:26):
You're going to be everywhere because that's what you do.

Speaker 7 (23:29):
Our new season launched this week and it hits World
Channel today at ten thirty, meaning that we hit PBIS
stations around the nation at the same time, which, if
you followed my story, was a really hard thing to
get to this point. But we are there and we
want to reach more people than ever with our stories
of hope. So that's what's going on. We also had
Whitney Reynolds Live this week. We want to make sure

(23:51):
that people know that we're dedicated to our home market
and the stories here, so make sure to go to
Whitney Reynolds dot com click events for our next upcoming events.

Speaker 1 (23:59):
Hi, it's Paul here with iHeartRadio Chicago, and today I
am chatting with our guests John Gusta Farrow, Executive Director,
Hundai Hope on Wheels, and Jackson Trin, ten year old
cancer survivor. How are we today?

Speaker 8 (24:13):
We're doing well. How are you so good?

Speaker 3 (24:16):
I'm so good.

Speaker 1 (24:16):
I'm so glad that you both are here. Being able
to join us. I know, John, I'd love to just
introduce you as well to the listeners. I know that
you are working closely with the Board of Directors and
you're focused on raising public awareness of pediatric cancer, increasing funding,
and expanding Hope on Wheel's position as a thought leader
with partners nationwide. Also believe you are a tetech speaker,

(24:38):
award winning brand strategist, so congrats on all that. Thank
and yeah, you're just doing a lot of amazing things
a leader on numerous philanthropic boards, so that's really really cool.
I love that for us. And then, of course, Jackson,
you are from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and yes, I love that.
I actually have been and I do love it there,
so that's so cool. And then you're the newest and

(25:00):
thy hope on Wheel's national youth ambassador, so congratulations, thank you.
So exciting. And you also visit children's hospitals across the
country and you share your story of hope and then
you raise awareness for pediatric cancer research as well. Right, yes,
I love that. Well, thank you both for making the
time today to come ONDI show I would love to

(25:22):
sort of kind of start with you quickly. John I'd
love to sort of kind of get a more of
a scope, right, how common is pediatric cancer and why
is research so important?

Speaker 8 (25:33):
Yeah, you know, sadly cancer affects too many kids. Every
thirty six minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. It
is the leading cause of death by disease among kids.
But I want your viewers to know as well that
there is hope. We're making progress. Since we started Honey
Open Wheels Foundation in nineteen ninety eight, over the past
twenty seven years, that survival rate has gone up from

(25:54):
about fifty eight percent and now over eighty five percent.
And you have everyone at Hyundai, from our eight hundred
Fiftyhundy dealers to Honeymotor America to our board of directors
and certainly Jackston myself are so deeply dedicated to making
sure that we find a cure someday. And we're making
progress and we're giving hope to families who are going.

Speaker 1 (26:11):
Through this absolutely, and I think that's so important. And
I'm really grateful that you are here to discuss this
topic as well, because, like you said, it is very important.
And what changes have you seen in pediatric cancer over
the years.

Speaker 8 (26:25):
You know, we invest primarily in research. This year alone,
we're giving twenty seven million dollars in grants predominantly focused
on research, and we know by doing this it helps
doctors not just treat kids, but ultimately make new advances.
And we're hearing that they're making new dances in cancer biology,
new imaging guidelines in dvances and cancer like leukemia which

(26:48):
is now highly curable, and new drug treatments critical trials
as well. You know, funding for research is so vital
and we're playing a major role in that. We're one
of the leading chairs across the nation who are doing
this work. And we can't do this alone, but in
dvances and driving that survival rate up, that's what we're

(27:09):
looking at every year.

Speaker 1 (27:10):
Absolutely. And can you tell us too about the nonprofit
Handai Hope on wheels, right, and then I'd love to
kind of discuss your plans to expand also in Canada
and Mexico.

Speaker 8 (27:20):
Sure, yeah, so yeah. HONEYPA Wills is a nonprofit corporate foundation.
We are funded primarily by dealers who donate every time
a car is sold. So every time you see a
Honey vehicle on the road, know that the customer and
the dealer were part of this movement, but you know,
more funds in our foundation and Honey Motor America also
gives a generous match to that, and we also have

(27:42):
individual donations for anybody who is so moved to donate,
and as a nonprofit corporate foundation, we then use these
funds in the best way possible and we you know,
working with a medical advisory committee and our board of directors,
and you know, nearly one hundred hospitals across the nation
who are who are really focused on Pietric cancer. I mean,
they really are the reflected light of our impact. And

(28:04):
we know we get these grants away, they are doing
the real work. They're the soldiers on the ground helping
more kids like Jackson who are no cancer free.

Speaker 1 (28:13):
Absolutely, and Jackson, I definitely want to head to you
now and sort of just talk to you a little bit,
if you don't mind, kind of telling us about your
battle against cancer and again why it's so important for
all of us to help.

Speaker 9 (28:25):
Yeah. So, when I was seven years old, I had
severe like pain, to the point where I'd wake up
in tears from the pain. And when I started getting fevers,
my parents took me to the hospital. They took me
to you and m Children's Hospital. But I was diagnosed
with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and I think it's

(28:49):
all important for everyone to help because I think kids
should be playing instead of fighting cancer, and I think
they deserve to grow up and grow up, so cancer
kind of really takes away that chance and makes it
tired and weak, and I think it's just really important

(29:13):
fore to help.

Speaker 1 (29:15):
I couldn't agree more. And you are such a warrior.
I really do hope that you know that, Jackson. And again,
I'm so grateful that you're here to be able to
talk about your experience and share your story with us
on the show here in Chicago. It's so important, believe
it or not, because we also, you know, as a
we're a community here right in Chicago. So I feel
like at the end of the day, even though you are,

(29:37):
you know, located in New Mexico, like we're still within
the community, right we still want to make sure that
we reach as going to beople as possible, especially when
it comes to telling your story. Jackson, thank you so
much for being here as well, and really quickly, I'd
love to chat with John really quick. Where can people
go for more information?

Speaker 8 (29:55):
Yeah, absolutely. You get a Honday Hope on Wheels dot org,
and you follow us on social media at Honey Hope
on Wheels and you can learn about what we're doing
here in the US. Is also as far as our
global expansion expanding in Canada and Mexico and other countries
to follow, so you could be involved by donating and
helping to spread the word.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
Awesome. Thank you both for being here today. I appreciate it.

Speaker 8 (30:16):
Thank you, Palli, thank you